Applying the Theory of Reasoned Action to Group Psychotherapy

Authors

  • Bill Latta Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12926/pbh10885

Keywords:

Psychotherapy

Abstract

According to the Fishbein and Ajzen theory of reasoned action, a person's intention to act is the best predictor of behavior. The intention to act depends on the individual's attitude toward the action and personal assessment of the societal norm for the behavior-both subjectively weighted. The author suggests that the active application of the theory by both the group leader and the group participants can increase the effectiveness of the curative factors in the group process.

References

Baum, D. (1985). The effect of source on reader perception of handicapping conditions. Exceptional Children, 51, 341-342.

Bordley, R. (1983). A Bayesian model of group polarization. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 32, 262-274.

Dowling, M. (1985). "Up Where We Belong"-a rewarding experience. Academic Therapy, 20, 347-351.

Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.

Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. ( 1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Gerard, H., & White, G. (1983). Post-decisional reevaluation of choice alternatives. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 9, 365-369.

Horst, L., & des Jarlais, D. (1984). Naturally occurring attitude and behavior changes: Content and duration of the change process. Psychology: A Quarterly Journal of Human Behavior, 21, 36-42.

Kobolla, T. (1984). Changing attitudes toward energy conservation: The effect of development advancement on the salience of one-sided and two-sided persuasive communications. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 21, 659-668.

Mackie, D., & Cooper, J. (1984). Attitude polarization: Effects of group membership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 575-585.

Maddux, J., & Rogers, R. (1983). Protection, motivation, and self-efficacy: A revised theory of fear appeals and attitude change. journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 19, 469-4 79.

McCarty, D., Morrison, S., & Mills, K. (1983). Attitudes, beliefs and alcohol use: An analysis of relationships. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 44, 328-341.

McFarland, C., Ross, M., & Conway, M.'(1984). Self-persuasion and selfpresentation as mediators of anticipatory attitude change. journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 529-540.

Orive, R. (1984). Group similarity, public self-awareness, and opinion extremity:A social projection explanation of de-individuation effects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 727-737.

Powers, R., Schlesinger, L., & Benson, M. (1983). Family violence: Effects of a film program for alcohol-dependent persons. Journal of Drug Education, 13, 153-160.

Reid, F., & Sumiga, L. (1984). Attitudinal politics in intergroup behavior: Interpersonal vs. intergroup determinants of attitude change. British journal of Social Psychology, 23, 335-340.

Ross, M., McFarland, C., Conway, M., & Zanna, M. (1983). Reciprocal relation between attitudes and behavior recall: Committing people to newly formed attitudes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 257-267.

Salend, S., & Knops, B. (1984). Hypothetical examples: A cognitive approach to changing attitudes toward the handicapped. Elementary School journal, 85, 229-235.

Sherer, M., & Rogers, R. (1984). The role of vivid information in fear appeals and attitude change. journal of Research in Personality, 18, 321-334.

Yalom, I. (1975). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-14

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 2 (1986): Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  2. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  3. NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
  4. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:

You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.

No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.